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LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED SIXTH LEGISLATURE
FIRST SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 286
Introduced by McCollister, 20.
Read first time January 15, 2019
Committee: Judiciary
1 A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to criminal justice; to create the Coordinated
2 Reentry Council; to provide powers and duties for the council; and
3 to provide a termination date.
4 Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,
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1 Section 1. The Legislature finds and declares that there shall be a
2 coordinated effort (1) to establish a comprehensive and successful system
3 of correctional reentry programs throughout this state and (2) to include
4 an array of interests in the establishment and growth of this system. To
5 further such policy, the Coordinated Reentry Council is created. For
6 administrative and budgetary purposes, the council shall be within the
7 Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice.
8 Sec. 2. (1) The Coordinated Reentry Council shall include the
9 following voting members:
10 (a) The executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Law
11 Enforcement and Criminal Justice;
12 (b) The Director of Correctional Services;
13 (c) The chairperson of the Board of Parole;
14 (d) The Director of Supervision and Services of the Division of
15 Parole Supervision;
16 (e) The Director of Behavioral Health of the Division of Behavioral
17 Health of the Department of Health and Human Services; and
18 (f) Eight members appointed by the Governor with the approval of a
19 majority of the Legislature, consisting of: An executive director of a
20 state community college association; a business owner who employs
21 formerly incarcerated individuals on a regular basis; two individuals who
22 were formerly incarcerated in a state correctional facility; one mental
23 health and substance abuse professional; one social worker; one
24 researcher in the field of criminal justice at a university or college in
25 Nebraska; and one full-time officer or employee of a law enforcement
26 agency.
27 (2) The council shall include the following nonvoting members:
28 (a) The probation administrator;
29 (b) Two members of the Legislature, appointed by the Executive Board
30 of the Legislative Council; and
31 (c) Two judges appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
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1 (3)(a) The terms of office for members initially appointed under
2 subdivision (1)(f) of this section shall be three years. Upon completion
3 of the initial terms of such members, the Governor shall appoint:
4 (i) A full-time officer or employee of a law enforcement agency and
5 a mental health and substance abuse professional for terms of one year;
6 (ii) An executive director of a state community college association
7 and two individuals who were formerly incarcerated in a state
8 correctional facility for terms of two years; and
9 (iii) A social worker, a business owner who employs formerly
10 incarcerated individuals on a regular basis, and a researcher in the
11 field of criminal justice in a university or college in Nebraska for
12 terms of three years.
13 (b) Succeeding appointees to those members appointed under
14 subdivisions (3)(a)(i) to (iii) of this section shall be appointed for
15 terms of three years.
16 (4) An appointee to a vacancy occurring from an unexpired term shall
17 serve out the term of his or her predecessor. Members whose terms have
18 expired shall continue to serve until their successors have been
19 appointed and qualified.
20 (5) The council shall by majority vote elect a chairperson from
21 among the members of the council.
22 (6) The members of the council shall be reimbursed for their actual
23 and necessary expenses incurred while engaged in the performance of their
24 official duties as provided in sections 81-1174 to 81-1177.
25 Sec. 3. The Coordinated Reentry Council shall:
26 (1) Develop and implement a plan to establish the statewide
27 operation and use of a continuum of reentry programs;
28 (2) Review efforts by individuals and organizations that provide
29 reentry services in Nebraska;
30 (3) Review best practices regarding reentry policies and programs in
31 other states;
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1 (4) Make recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor
2 regarding reentry policies and programs;
3 (5) Meet at least three times each year;
4 (6) If necessary to help perform the duties of the council, hire,
5 contract for, or otherwise obtain the services of consultants,
6 researchers, aides, and other necessary support staff; and
7 (7) Perform such other duties as may be necessary to carry out the
8 purposes of section 1 of this act.
9 Sec. 4. The Coordinated Reentry Council shall terminate on December
10 31, 2029.
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